Dying dad’s plea to find missing daughter

TASK FORCE LINCOLN: Detective Superintendent Des Bray with one of the police cars advertising the new campaign to help sold the cold case of Susan Gae Goodwin.

TASK FORCE LINCOLN: Port Lincoln Sergeant Di Baker-Tagg showing one of the posters to a driver in the Coles car park.

PLEA: Don Goodwin has penned a letter in hopes to find out what happened to his daughter before he dies.

Missing: Susan Goodwin.

2005 SEARCH: Susan Goodwin's partner at the time of her disappearance Michele Peterson joined a search at the old greyhound track in Port Lincoln in November 2005. The search was prompted by information that had been passed onto Ms Peterson.

Susan Goodwin’s gravely ill father just wants to know where his daughter is before he dies.

SA Police have released the appeal from Don Goodwin after visiting his hospital room in country Victoria last week where he presented a letter and spoke in a video.

Mr Goodwin is undergoing treatment for lung cancer and fears he does not have much time left to find out what happened to his daughter, who disappeared from Port Lincoln in 2002.

His letter reads:

To Whom it may concern,

Six months ago I had a heart attack, three months later I found out I have lung cancer, and at the moment I am in Trafalgar Hospital receiving radio therapy, my need to find what happened to my daughter has become even stronger.

Thirty years ago Suzy was in a tragic car accident she survived but lost two sisters and only brother.

Fifteen years ago we lost Suzy believed now murdered in Port Lincoln.

I saw Suzy in the year 2000 and believed I would see her for her fortieth birthday. This wasn’t to be, Suzy has been missing for 15 years.

I am appealing to anyone knows anything. I appeal to you to come forward to the police. I am desperate for answers, as her remaining sister and mother need closure and some peace as our lives have been destroyed by these tragedies.

Ms Goodwin has not been seen for 15 years and earlier this month SA Police launched Task Force Lincoln to re-investigate her disappearance in Port Lincoln, where they believe she was murdered.

Mr Goodwin has also made a video appeal to ask anyone with information to come forward.

He said life had been terrible since her disappearance.

“It’s been on my mind all the time – day and night – you never get over it and it just wears you down something terrible.

TASK FORCE LINCOLN: Detective Superintendent Des Bray with one of the police cars advertising the new campaign to help sold the cold case of Susan Gae Goodwin.

When police travelled to Victoria last week to visit Mr Goodwin, detectives also interviewed friends and family who now live in the Gippsland area.

With the release of the video, Major Crime police have echoed Mr Goodwin’s appeal for information.

“We are making progress and we know that even the smallest piece of information could make all the difference in this case,” SAPOL Major Crime Investigation Branch officer in charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray said

He said since Task Force Lincoln was launched, there had been 38 calls to police or Crime Stoppers with information about the case.

The taskforce of investigators and intelligence experts are being assisted by Port Lincoln detectives and Crime Stoppers to follow fresh lines of inquiry into Ms Goodwin’s disappearance in 2002.

The cold-case operation includes a reward up to $200,000 for information to lead to a conviction of those responsible for her disappearance or suspected murder, or information on the location of her remains.

“Over the years there’s been a variety of theories put forward about the disappearance of Susan Goodwin – that she’d run away; that she overdosed and was then disposed of; that she was killed by associates or that she was killed by someone close to her,” he said.

Detective Superintendent Bray said they did not believe she accidentally overdosed or went away, they firmly believed she was murdered.

“In a case like this experience shows us that it’s not uncommon for the person to be someone related to the victim or friend or someone closely associated with the victim,” he said.

“Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au/ - you can remain anonymous, or we can make arrangements to meet you discreetly.”